Gate for hens  nests



(No Model.)

W. S. SPAULDING.

GATE FOR HENS NESTS.

Patented Aug. 31,1886.

INVENTOR 9&5 Gym/64m WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

XVILLTAM S. SPAULDING, OF PAINTERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

GATE FOR HENS NESTS.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,356, dated August 31, 1886.

Serial No. 170,956. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLUI. S. SPAULDING, of Paintersville, in the county of Mifilin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Nest-Gate, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

It is the object of my invention to provide a new and improved nestgate, which prevents animals from disturbing the nest or eggs, while it permits the hens to pass in and out at pleasure, and" which also prevents a hen sitti ng on the nest from being disturbed by other few].

The invention consists ofthe combinations of parts, including their construction, substantially as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front view ofa nest-box provided with my improved gate, and showi ug the series of longer bars in a vertical position, as when the hen occupies her nest. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, in which the longer bars have been pushed forward by the hen, and in consequence of the tension of the spring have been thrown up ward intoa horizontal position and the series of shorter bars brought into the vertical plane. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 501:, Fig. 1, and showing the position of the bars represented in Fig. 2 in dotted lines.

A indicates a nest-box of the ordinary or of any approved construction. It is provided in its upper front part with a horizontal beam consisting of a metal rod, 13, pivoted in suitable bearings in the sides of the nest-box, and provided at its center with the diagonal U- shaped downward projection C, and of the two square timber-pieces D D. The rod B is connected to the upper front edge of the timbers D by suitable clips, as shown in Fig. 1, and the sides of the U shaped piece 0 are secured diagonally on the ends of the timbers D toward the center, as shown in Fig. 8. A series of bars, E, extend from one side of the timbers D, and are made so long that they almost reach the floor of the nest-box when in the position shown in Fig. 1. A series of shorter bars, F, extend from a contiguous side of the timbers D at right angles to the bars E, and are above the nest when thebars E are in front of it, and are themselves in front of the nest, as shown in Fig. 2,when the bars E arein the horizontal plane. The bars 16 may be curved slightly outward and the bars F slightly inward,ifdesired. Stops G G are placed 011 the roof of the nest-box near each side in order to limit the movement of the horizontal beam to onequarter of a revolution, or ninety degrees. A spring, H, has its upper end secured to the root of the nest-box or to the stationary part of gate, and its lower end secured to the bottom of the U-shaped piece 0. The tension of the spring H causes the position of the horizontal beam to be unstable, unless one side of the timbers D rest against the stopsG. Consequently when the bars E are moved outward as the hen leaves her nest, the spring it forces them upward, and the bars F areswungdown into a vertical position. On the return of the hen to hernest or of another hen to occupy the nest the fowl pushing against the bars F causes them to swing backward, and the spring H completes the quarter-revolution of the beam, forces the bars F upward into a horizontal position, and the bars E consequently downward into a vertical plane.

The horizontal rocking beam represented in the figures as consisting of the rod B and timber-pieces D may, if desired, be made in one piece.

The gate may be made of any suitable material, and be modified to suit the requirements of different nests and the different materials employed.

In the operation of the gate it will be no ticed that the central bars of both sericsEand F are somewhat farther apart than the remainder, and that consequently the hen by putting her head through this opening and pushing against the bars with her shoulders can easily open or close the gate.

My improved gate, though particularly adapted to nests, is not limited to them exclusively but may be applied for a number of purposes.

I am aware thata nest-gate consisting of a pivotally mounted and continuous bar carrying quadrentially-arranged rods, and held in either of two positions by afiat spring bearing directly upon the bar or a wear-plate thereon D at right angles to each. other and slightly isnot new; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 5 Thecombination,with the nest-box A, of the rod B, having the central Ushaped piece, 0, and pivoted to the upper forward corner of the said nest-box,the pieces D, attached to the rod B on both sides of the central projection, (l, IO by means of suitable clips or fastenings, the

two series of bars E and F, of different lengths, projecting from contiguous sides of the pieces curved outwardly and inwardly, respectively,

at their free ends, the stops G, secured to the 15 nest-box and limiting the-motion of the rod B and pieces I), and the spring H,att-ached to the nest-box and to the central U-shaped piece,G,

of the rod B, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM S. SPAULDING.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. MILLER, R. A. FEAR. 

